As 19 puppies get care in foster homes after being abandoned in Hines Park in Plymouth, an animal rights group is offering a reward up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the culprit who dumped them.

PETA, or People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, announced the reward Tuesday, three weeks after a jogger found the puppies in a urine-soaked cardboard box as she jogged alongside Northville Road.

"These helpless puppies were abandoned and left to starve or freeze to death in the winter cold," PETA Vice President Colleen O'Brien said in a statement released Tuesday. "PETA urges anyone with information about this case to come forward immediately so that whoever dumped these dogs can be held accountable for putting 19 lives in danger."

The PETA tip line is 757-213-8774.

Jogger Julie Newman found the puppies about 10:30 a.m. Dec. 28 after she heard "little yelps" coming from a cardboard box. She and her sister took the 4-week-old pit bull terrier mix puppies to the Humane Society of Huron Valley.

Wendy Welch, HSHV communications director, said Tuesday all 19 puppies were placed in temporary foster homes and will soon receive their booster vaccines before they can be adopted. She said public response to adopt the puppies has been strong.

PETA's reward was made independently of HSHV, but Welch said any help in the case is welcome.

"We encourage everyone to be interested in animal welfare issues," she said. "We welcome all tips."

Tips also may be made to HSHV’s cruelty and rescue line at 734-661-3512 or at hshv.org/cruelty.

Megan Wiltsie, PETA assistant press coordinator, said the Virginia-based animal rights organization decided to become involved after hearing about the abandoned puppies. She said PETA learns of such cases through the media or from people who contact PETA.

"We offer rewards when we believe that, with a little incentive, someone will come forward with information that brings these criminals to justice before they commit more violent crimes," Wiltsie said by e-mail, in response to questions.

When Newman found the puppies, she told HSHV officials they were climbing over each other and trying to escape the box. She has two rescue dogs of her own and described herself as "heartbroken" by her find.

The puppies, found near Wilcox Lake, are believed to be from multiple litters. Nine are males and 10 are females.

Tanya Hilgendorf, HSHV CEO and president, has said the case serves as a reminder that unwanted pets can be taken to animal shelters rather than dumped. Early on, she said the puppies would be spayed or neutered before they are adopted "to help ensure this doesn't happen again."